Gun Rights

A number of mass shootings since 2007 have fueled a contentious debate about gun rights. And while liberals are starting to throw cash behind pro-gun control efforts through super PACs like Americans for Responsible Solutions - created by gun violence victim and former Rep. Gabby Giffords - the gun debate is still largely controlled by Republicans favoring gun rights as far the money is concerned.

Gun rights groups overwhelmingly favor the GOP with their cash -- and give a whole lot more of it than gun control supporters. During the 2014 election cycle, gun rights advocates gave parties, candidates and outside spending groups nine times more than their opponents ($3.7 million versus $423,750) and spent nearly seven more times on lobbying ($27.3 million versus $4.2 million). Still, these differences are much less exaggerated than they were in the 2012 cycle. [Read more Background]

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